Author: nina hovnanian

Russia & India Report
April 25 2013

Russia to keep activity in the OSCE Minsk Group for Karabakh settlement – Lavrov

25/04/2013Voice of Russia

Russia keeps up its activity in the OSCE Minsk Group for Karabakh
settlement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“We are working in the framework of three co-chairmen, together with
the United States and France. Various participants of the Troika have
made proposals at various stages [of the process] and the other
cochairmen have granted them support. The goal is to create conditions
on which the sides may agree,” he told a press conference after
negotiations with Armenian colleague Eduard Nalbandian in Moscow on
Thursday.

The co-chairmen’s policy is mirrored by the principles confirmed with
statements of the Russian and French presidents in the past three or
four years, Lavrov said.

Canadian Dundee Precious Metals invested $150 million in Armenia in six years

YEREVAN, April 26. / ARKA /. Canadian company Dundee Precious Metals
has invested around $155 million in Armenia over the last six years
through its Armenian subsidiary Deno Gold Mining, according to Deno
Gold Mining chief executive officer Hrach Jabrayan.

“Over the past six years, Dundee Precious Metals has invested about
$155 million ( 63.7 billion drams) in development of Armenia’s mining
sector. In the last three years, the company invested 6 billion drams
in environmental projects and 2 billion in various projects designed
to ensure the safety and health of employees and another 800 million
drams in their education and training, ” he said.

He said the company was 9tth in the list of the largest taxpayers in
2012, having paid 7 billion drams in various taxes.

Dundee Precious Metals is a major international mining company engaged
in extraction of precious metals, their procurement, research and
treatment. Its Armenian subsidiary Deno Gold Mining operates Shahumian
polymetallic deposit and copper pyrite mine in Kapan holding 5% in
it. ($ 1-411.33 drams). -0-

What Will Be If Government Starts Disarming PAP?

The incident at the Memorial to Genocide Victims caused a scandal in
the social networks which was inevitable. Gagik Tsarukyan’s supporters
were indignant indeed. What happened was highly symbolic. For the
first time Tsarukyan was refused something in public, and it was done
by a policemen, the police being the main pillar of Serzh Sargsyan’s
administration. While posturing to be outside the government during
the second election, and declared to be opposition by some of its
figures, the PAP is upset to be denied access to governmental
resources.

In addition, Tsarukyan and others want to use the government resources
not to make some political compromises, for example, but to take care
of their own personal privileges. What is politically invisible or is
possible to hide behind traditional wording was seen more vividly and
showed that so far the Prosperous Armenia is not ready for radical
change.

How is the PAP going to begin with Yerevan if its members are not
ready to give away their privileges at least in their private life?
The government, including the police, knows the PAP is not government.
It continues to have close economic and political ties which are
nothing more but inertia of the past. Now the government dares to
speak the first that the PAP is not government and creates a
convenient situation for that. It seems that Tsarukyan and PAP should
finally use their chance to separate from the government and overcome
the complex to declare themselves opposition. The opposition provided
the platform for that by means of the first president’s speech. The
government is also pushing for that, ensuring the starting conditions.
However, the PAP would not express anything about this fact except
indignation.

It is hard to tell why the government wants to push the PAP to take
such steps. It is clear, of course, that even if the policeman acted
in compliance with law, this is not the police that is committed to
compliance of its actions with its professional duties. In other
words, there had been a direct or indirect political approval. Hence,
the government shows its stance clearly with help of its law
enforcement agency. This could be an act of showing teeth to Tsarukyan
or a highly concentrated demo of the disadvantages of being
opposition. At least, a red thread ran across this incident.

The reaction of the PAP is controversial, notably in the context of
the mayoral election of Yerevan. It is controversial because the
content and targets of criticism point out that there is hope to
present to the opposition electorate’s support in this election but
there is no wish to be an independent and self-determined subject and
to assume responsibility for this electorate.

On the other hand, the lack of long-term and lasting strategies and
focus on short-term fragmental interests is revealed. Division or at
least decentralization of forces is seen clearly. On the one hand, the
PAP pursues opposition interests under Oskanian’s guidance, tries to
capitalize resources in the opposition sector, since last year,
including the joint campaign headquarters, dialogue with the PAP, etc.
On the other hand, Tsarukyan feels discomfort already after the first
attempt.

Given limitation of Tsarukyan’s resources in such an everyday setting,
it is interesting to guess what will happen if the government sets to
disarm Tsarukyan fully. In the context of the mayoral election it will
open up an interesting chain of controversies that exist inside the
PAP. In any case, unlike his team, Tsarukyan is well-aware of his
interests, at least formulated for himself only. He does not want to
enter into a confrontation with the government. First, it will bring
more loss than benefits. Evidence is his refusal to run in the
presidential election. It is possible to fight at a local and indirect
level. It is only left to keep Tsarukyan away from such situations
which he has been doing recently, beginning from the presidential
election, refraining from all kinds of political meetings.

The negative thing about this is the waste of the opposition
electorate against the uncertainty of the Prosperous Armenia Party.
Part of the opposition does not seem to be against capitalizing this
electorate to offer it to the PAP while the other part did not manage
to consolidate and prevent this process. In fact, the government has
set to this prevention indirectly. The issue of PAP’s existence as an
independent political subject is put forth, and they will hardly
manage to address to it before the election, while after the election
the answer to it might be the beginning of liquidation of the
Prosperous Armenia Party.

Levon Margaryan
16:56 26/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

The annual Flower Gathering Event at Genocide Memorial

26-04-2013 14:53:56 | Armenia | Social

April 26th: The annual Flower Gathering Event at Genocide Memorial

Already for the fourth time the Foundation for the Preservation of
Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) in cooperation with VivaCell-MTS
and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute organizes the Flower
Gathering Event at the Genocide Memorial complex. This year the event
tÖ…Ö…k place on April 26th with the support of many volunteers including
representatives of organizations and companies, as well as
schoolchildren and university students. VivaCell-MTS staff also
participated in the tree planting activities.

With their active support all volunteers contributed to a new life for
the flowers left next to the Eternal Flame of the Genocide Memorial on
April 24th by thousands of people to honour the Genocide victims. A
few days later these flowers wither and have to be disposed. Before
2010 each year approximately 2 tons of flowers were therefore burnt as
garbage. To promote a more respectful and environmental solution for
this problem FPWC implemented in 2010 a new initiative ` the Flower
Gathering Event.

The Flower Gathering has become very popular and is since 2010 a peak
point of FPWC’s annual Earth Day Campaign implemented in cooperation
with VivaCell-MTS. During the flower gathering event the stalks of the
flowers are cut off to become compost for the memorial park whereas
the flower petals are carefully collected and later dried. These
petals are later utilized by FPWC to decorate handmade recycled paper.
The paper cannot be purchased but is only used for special purposes as
for certificates, thank-you letters and invitations to the Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute.

“Although we have initiated this, we strive to make the flower
gathering an event that with us or without us becomes a beautiful
tradition and has a continuous character” said the founder of the
Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC)
Ruben Khachatryan.

“People pay tribute to the memory of the victims of Genocide, by
walking up to the Memorial, and laying down flowers. In several days
those flowers vanish. What to do with those flowers? A question that
seems simple and inappropriate at first glance, however, is very
complex, and raises important questions ` isn’t it unethical that the
final destination for those flowers will be the landfill and burning?
Besides, burning has a quite negative effect on public health and
environment. Thus, as part of our joint effort, these flowers will
serve to our Issue ` the Recognition,” mentioned VivaCell-MTS General
Manager Ralph Yirikian.

– Social
News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan

Zdzislaw Raczynski: Poland cannot recognize independence of Nagorno
Karabakh until Armenia does it

Thursday, April 25, 17:26

Poland cannot recognize independence of Nagorno Karabakh, given that
Armenia has not done it yet, Polish Ambassador to Armenia Zdzislaw
Raczynski told media in Yerevan, Thursday.

“Poland supports the EU’s stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
comes out for peaceful resolution of the conflict within the OSCE
Minsk Group,” the ambassador said. At the same time, he said, the
unresolved conflict negatively affects both the conflicting parties
and the region, in general. Zdzislaw Raczynski said he is sure that
Armenia and Azerbaijan will achieve an agreement in a peaceful way.

“These two countries will co-exist for centuries and they should be
ready to resolve the conflict. This will happen in a peaceful way and
journalists as a link in this chain must prepare the people for such
development of the situation,” the ambassador said.

As regards Azerbaijan’s threats to hit civil planes of NKR, Ambassador
Raczynski said that he has no information of such statements at the
official level.

Commenting on pardon and glorification of Ramil Safarov, the murderer
of the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, Zdzislaw Raczynski called
Azerbaijan’s actions inappropriate and harmful for the negotiation
process.

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Raffi Hovannisian: “Barev Yerevan” will win

03:27 PM | TODAY | POLITICS

Heritage Party Leader Raffi Hovannisian, who is continuing his
meetings across Armenian, was asked in Ijevan city whether his
regional tours would not prevent the Barev Yerevan alliance, which is
made up mostly of Hovannisian’s Heritage party members and supporters,
from registering good results in the May 5 municipal election in
Yerevan.

“Barev Yerevan” will win. On Sunday we shall return to Yerevan and
campaign for the victory of our non-partisan list … It does not
depend on the personality of Raffi Hovannisian,” said the Heritage
leader.

Hranush Hakobyan’s Impoliteness

During today’s meeting of the interdepartmental commission to support
Armenian Syrians Petros Boyajyan, teacher at Yerevan State Medical
University, criticized the Armenian authorities for their attitude to
Armenian Syrians. The Armenian Syrian doctor noted that his
compatriots are totally ignored in Armenia. They have no place to
live, no work, businessmen complain of the business climate, and the
state does not provide a proper solution to their issues.

The complaint of the Armenian Syrian professor made the Minister of
Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan indignant who interrupted Petros Boyadjyan
impolitely and said that his words are not true, adding that they paid four
heart surgeries for Armenian Syrians, which is a huge sum.

Hranush Hakobyan underlined that the Ministry of Economy allocated 400,000
USD to help Armenian Syrians run business here. She pointed out that
Boyadjyan himself has employment, in answer the doctor said that he managed
to find a job thanks to his qualifications. Hranush Hakobyan replied that
everyone finds a job in accordance with their qualifications. She
underlined that the state budget was tight, providing so many free of
charge services to Armenian Syrians.

She said that government agencies gave Armenian Syrians everything they
could, including refrigerators, washing machines, clothes, blankets etc.
The president supervises this process. I would advise you to get informed
and to cooperate closely with government bodies. You will not find anyone
who came to the ministry and was offended, the minister said.

Armenian Syrians attending the meeting entered into a debate, some
praising, others criticizing the Armenian government. One of them said that
passport issue should not be listed as an achievement because it is the
fault of the government that Armenian Syrians did not have passports so far.

13:53 26/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

Armenian genocide part of strategic goals of Ottoman Empire political
elite – Tajik scholar

April 26, 2013 | 02:42

Young Tajik scholar Shavkat Kasymov it is necessary once again raise
the issue of guilt and responsibility for Armenian genocide
orchestrated by the government of the Ottoman Empire.

His article `The example of the Armenian genocide and the role of the
millet system in its execution’ was published in Social Identities
magazine. He is one of the winners of Tashir award on genocide studies
and Facebook `We Demand Increase of Science Funding’ ahead of the
100th anniversary.

Asked why he decided to write a paper on the Armenian genocide, the
scholar of the University of Notre Dame (Indiana, U.S.) said he though
it important to honor the victims of those tragic events now that we
are approaching a centennial anniversary in 2015.

However, the key point is `once again we need to raise the issue of
guilt and responsibility, since according to many analyses, including
mine, the Armenian genocide was orchestrated by the government of the
Ottoman Empire and aimed at the elimination of the its Christian
populations, primarily the Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians.’

`The article engages with two theoretical approaches in the field of
genocide studies, and it discusses how one of these approaches is
superior to another, particularly through the lens of the case of the
Armenian genocide. One of these approaches suggests that genocide
occurs as a result of significant structural changes, such as wars,
revolutions, economic and political crises. While it is an important
contribution to Genocide Studies, this approach does not reveal the
leading driving force behind mass killing. The other approach
maintains that mass killing originates in the policies of political
elites.

My article suggests that the Armenian genocide was part of the
political and strategic goals of the political elites in the Ottoman
Empire, who sought to transform the empire into a homogenous
nation-state through the deportation and extermination of the Armenian
minority as an example of the Final Solution. The Armenian minority
was seen by the Young Turks as an obstacle to the ideology of
Pan-Turkism, which eventually led to the creation of modern Turkey. I
draw on empirical evidence, secondary sources, and theory to support
my argument,’ he said in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The young scholar plans to write more articles on the Armenian
genocide in the future especially when he finds credible primary
materials and empirical evidence.

`However, I believe that we have to look at the Armenian genocide not
only from an historical perspective, but also from the standpoint of
Genocide Studies, in order to bring the analyses to a completely new
and higher level, and develop and implement adequate policies that
would eliminate the potential for such atrocities occurring again in
the future,’ he said.

Turkish media astonished at Armenian-Turkmen friendship

April 26, 2013 | 12:56

The Turkish media are surprised by the telephonic conversation that
was held between the presidents of Armenia and Turkmenistan, and by
the Armenian president being invited to Turkmenistan.

Turkey’s leading media outlets have reflected on the telephonic
conversation between the Armenian and Turkmen presidents, Serzh
Sargsyan and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, during which the latter
invited his Armenian counterpart to Turkmenistan, at any convenient
time.

Aksam daily of Turkey ran this information under the heading:
`Astonishing rapprochement between Turkmenistan and Armenia.’

To note, President Sargsyan accepted his counterpart’s invitation to
visit Turkmenistan. The dates for this trip will be determined through
diplomatic channels.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Armenian Airlines pilots protesting in front of presidential residence

ARMINFO
Friday, April 26, 13:42

A group of pilots and engineering technicians of Armenian Airlines
are holding an action of protest in front of the residence of Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan.

ArmInfo’s correspondent reports from the scene that the pilots say
that since 2006, when Armenian Airlines announced its bankruptcy, the
company has failed to pay them the compensation they earlier received
for the damage caused to their health by their professional
activities.

“They said they were no longer able to pay the money after the second
President Robert Kocharyan had made them bankrupt and had sold their
property to Mikhail Bagdasarov for just $5mln,” one of the pilots
said.

“Before the constitutional reforms the Constitution said that if a
company is legally incapable of making such payments, this should be
done by the Government. But the authorities have removed this point
and now say that they cannot pay the compensation because of the
economic crisis. But Robert Kocharyan has enough money, so, he must
pay for what he did,” the pilots say.